outfielder Tokumasa Chano (26), who will be transferred from Orix Buffaloes in the active player draft, held a joining press conference at the team office in Tokorozawa, Saitama on the 12th, and vowed to become a regular player next season.

Wearing the uniform that holds him dear, he regains his spark. A native of Higashiomi City, Shiga Prefecture, he is a speedy, skillful outfielder who throws right and bats left. "I've always used the Seibu Lions Railway, which runs through his hometown," he says. "I used to see The Lions logo on buses and things like that," he says. Seibu Lions has been a familiar presence to him since childhood. The tie he was wearing that day was a light blue, "I thought it would be good because it was blue." His favorite color is also "blue," making him a "talented player" worthy of wearing the team's color, "Legend Blue."

He joined Orix Buffaloes in 2022 as the fourth pick in the development draft from Tokushima in the Shikoku League League, and in 2023 he became the first development rookie to be included in the opening starting starting line-up, but this season he has only played in three games. The competition outfielder is fierce, but he reflected, "I want to put everything I have into it and do my best in this one-year competition." (Oonaka Ayami)